Microsoft cuts $50 off price of Zune

Can it really be coincidence that Microsoft shaves $50 off the cost of a Zune the day before Apple gives another lesson in media manipulation? Nah. The Zune Insider blog announced the price cut Tuesday and said the move is "part of the normal product lifecycle, something we've had on the books for months." The cynical among us might say, "If it was on the books for months why did you wait until Apple Event Eve to announce it?"

Here's why. Microsoft knew the Apple event was coming and knew it would get fawning coverage no matter what color black T-shirt Steve Jobs wears. So how to time the Zune announcement for maximum effect? Release the news too soon and any legs the story might have get whacked by that other music player. Release too late and the announcement is lost amid cries of "are you kidding—have you seen the iPod Touch!?"

So really the best strategy is to casually let slip that it's time for another of the normal product lifecycle price cuts Microsoft is famous for—and did you notice that customer satisfaction with the 30GB Zune is around 94 percent? Then sit back and hope the media plays fair. Because if it does, every glowing piece on Apple and iPod will include a line or two about Microsoft and Zune and costs less. And while that's a long way from stealing Jobs's thunder, it's a small measure of comfort to Redmond.